“I’d feel the same way, bro,” Tate admitted. “When Lara sacrificed herself to a terrorist to save my life, I lost it when he touched her. I get it. But Lara didn’t go through what Ellie did. She didn’t spend months in captivity being treated like she wasn’t human. I’m not sure I could handle that without losing my mind. But she’s going to need to talk about it. She’s going to need to get through it before she can focus on a real relationship. I know this doesn’t help much, but just be there for her.”
“She needs time,” Blake stated bluntly. “Is she getting therapy?”
Zane nodded. “The same one that Chloe uses. Dr. Townson thinks Ellie has post-traumatic stress. Dammit! I don’t want her to have to be afraid anymore. It’s over.”
Marcus nodded. “PTSD makes sense. Zane, a person can’t go through a prolonged period of confinement like that without some damage to her psyche.”
“She’s handling it well. Really well,” Zane explained. “Better than most people would. But sometimes I can see the fear in her eyes, and it’s fucking killing me.” If someone put him in a lab, he was in his element. Outside of work, he was like a fish out of water. He didn’t know what to say or do to help Ellie heal.
“Then just keep being supportive,” Blake suggested. “Give her time.”
“Spoken like a guy who has never wanted a woman so desperately that he’d do anything to have her,” Tate mumbled. “If you want a real relationship with a woman who makes you crazy, things get complicated.”
Things were beyond complicated for Zane. And he wanted nothing more than to claim Ellie in the most elemental way possible. Yet, he also wanted her to feel safe. How in the hell did a man deal with those two conflicting emotions: rampant desire and protectiveness? In his mind, a guy either wanted to fuck a woman or he wanted to protect her—like he wanted to protect his younger sister, Chloe. For him, those two emotions had never co-existed before.
“I’ll deal with it,” Zane told his brothers, trying hard to sound a hell of a lot more confident about the situation than he really was.
Tate snorted as Zane gathered up his books to go pay for them. “That’s what I said when my dick got hard every time I looked at Lara.”
Zane made his way to the checkout, but his brothers trailed closely behind him. “Lara is the best thing that ever happened to you,” Zane answered gruffly, knowing he’d give anything to have what Tate had: a woman who loved him even with all of his faults.
Tate shrugged. “I’d never deny that.” His voice was unwavering. “But it can be hell before the honeymoon starts.”
Zane handed the cashier money, waving at her to keep the change as he gathered up the bags of books. Turning to leave and glaring at his brothers as he muscled his way in between them, he informed them, “There isn’t going to be a honeymoon. Christ! I just want to help her right now, okay? She went through hell and back. Ellie needs somebody right now.”
“Do you want me to take her in for a while?” Blake asked blandly. “I wouldn’t mind having her as my guest. I’ve always liked Ellie, and I have plenty of room at the ranch.”
“I wouldn’t mind helping either.” Marcus echoed his twin’s offer. “I’ll be around for the holidays.”
Zane saw red at the thought of Ellie being with any other man but him, even his brothers. They wouldn’t care about her the same way he did. “Hell, no. And if either of you offer, I’ll make you regret it,” he told them ominously before he made his way around them and promptly exited the bookstore without ever looking back.
The other three Colter brothers gave one another a questioning look.
“He really is screwed,” Tate said solemnly. “Shit! I want him to be happy, but he could be looking at a pretty bumpy road. Ellie’s confused. She isn’t going to know what she wants until she’s had some time and counseling.”
Blake nodded slowly. “Zane will give her time. He’ll do what’s best for Ellie.”
“Are the two of you blind? She’s perfect for him,” Marcus drawled. “She always has been. The timing just sucks.”
Tate looked at Marcus with surprise. “How do you know she’s the one for Zane?”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Observation. The few times I’ve seen them together since Zane left Rocky Springs, it’s been pretty obvious. I’ve seen the way they look at each other. I don’t doubt that Ellie has genuine feelings for Zane. It’s not a bad case of hero worship. She’s always liked him. He’s always liked her. I’m surprised he’s never gone after her before. Maybe it was because she was Chloe’s best friend. I don’t think he realized just how much he wanted her until she disappeared.”
“What if you’re wrong?” Blake asked gruffly.
Marcus looked at both of his brothers for a moment before answering with a certainty that came out sounding very much like arrogance. “I’m never wrong.”
Tate and Blake watched as Marcus turned and walked toward the exit, his declaration still hanging in the air. The two of them just shook their heads and eventually followed behind him, neither one of them able to think of a single smartass thing to say.
Zane stowed his heavy load of books in the car before he crossed the street in search of Ellie. Not that he was ashamed of what he’d purchased, but it would probably bring up questions that he didn’t want to, and couldn’t, answer right now.